Caribbean Local Governance Systems

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: Members of local government associations from six countries took part in a two-day strategic planning exercise that launched on Tuesday, January 23, 2016. Under the theme “Empowering local government to deliver development goals”, members of the Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities (CALGA) discussed a new vision for local government in the Caribbean, and strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities for changing the role and functions of local governance bodies across the Caribbean.

The discussion included participants from the University of the West Indies (Mona and St. Augustine campuses) and was facilitated by a Federation of Canadian Municipalities consultant Brenda Gibson of British Columbia, Canada. The workshop was funded by the Caribbean Local Economic Development Project (CARILED), with financing from the Government of Canada, the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), and the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Local Government Authorities (TTALGA).

Welcoming remarks were given by President of CALGA, Yoland Jno Jules of Dominica, who expressed his enthusiasm for the future of local government and local government associations, and his hope that central governments throughout the Caribbean would recognize the importance of local government in creating change in communities. Ms. Sandra Singh, Program Officer for the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) also thanked CALGA for its commitment to continuing its mandate, and CARILED Program Director Marion Villanueva reinforced the importance of local governance bodies in promoting and advocating for capacity building of practitioners.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Terry Rondon, TTALGA member thanked CARILED for its support of local government and local economic development in the Caribbean, and reflected on a study program made in 2016. He said “after I visited Letherbridge with CARILED, and saw that they had street dwellers employed to clean the streets, I used that approach in Sangre Grande, and now we have 6 street dwellers employed who now have a place to live since they can pay rent.”

Twenty-two persons took part in the two-day planning workshop, from The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. CALGA will continue to partner with CARILED as it seeks to complete its five-year strategic plan. The meeting was closed officially by remarks from Alderman Anthony Roberts, CALGA 2nd Vice President.

About Us

The establishment of the Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities (CALGA) was pioneered by The Trinidad and Tobago Association of Local Government Authorities (TTALGA) in November 1991, with financing from TTALGA, along with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), as well as technical support from UWI – St Augustine. The two-day meeting is supported by CARILED, through financing from the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada, and CLGF. For more information on CALGA, please visit www.calga.org.